Focus and the Ejagham verb system
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John R. Watters
Abstract
This study concerns the interaction of ‘focus’ with the verbal system of Ejagham, an Ekoid Bantu language. In particular it concerns the multiple forms of the perfective and imperfective aspects. The Ejagham system differs from the tendency in Bantu systems. The verb forms in Ejagham have a ‘constituent’ focus form that sub-categorizes predicates (“verbs”) with terms (“nps”), and an ‘operator’ focus form used whenever the verbal operator is within the scope of focus. Bantu languages commonly have a form used when the verbal complement falls within the scope of focus but another form for other cases. So Bantu languages tend to group predicates with verbal operators. In addition, Ejagham conflates assertive and contrastive focus, a distinction that is important in other Bantoid languages in the general vicinity of Ejagham but not in Ejagham.
Abstract
This study concerns the interaction of ‘focus’ with the verbal system of Ejagham, an Ekoid Bantu language. In particular it concerns the multiple forms of the perfective and imperfective aspects. The Ejagham system differs from the tendency in Bantu systems. The verb forms in Ejagham have a ‘constituent’ focus form that sub-categorizes predicates (“verbs”) with terms (“nps”), and an ‘operator’ focus form used whenever the verbal operator is within the scope of focus. Bantu languages commonly have a form used when the verbal complement falls within the scope of focus but another form for other cases. So Bantu languages tend to group predicates with verbal operators. In addition, Ejagham conflates assertive and contrastive focus, a distinction that is important in other Bantoid languages in the general vicinity of Ejagham but not in Ejagham.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
- Information structure marking in Sandawe texts 1
- Topic and focus fields in Naki 35
- The relation between focus and theticity in the Tuu family 69
- Focus marking in Aghem 95
- On the obligatoriness of focus marking 117
- Focalisation and defocalisation in Isu 145
- Discourse function of inverted passives in Makua-Marevone narratives 165
- Topic-focus articulation in Taqbaylit and Tashelhit Berber 193
- Focus in Atlantic languages 233
- Topic and focus construction asymmetry 261
- Verb-and-predication focus markers in Gur 287
- Why contrast matters 315
- Focus and the Ejagham verb system 349
- Language index 377
- Subject index 379
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
- Information structure marking in Sandawe texts 1
- Topic and focus fields in Naki 35
- The relation between focus and theticity in the Tuu family 69
- Focus marking in Aghem 95
- On the obligatoriness of focus marking 117
- Focalisation and defocalisation in Isu 145
- Discourse function of inverted passives in Makua-Marevone narratives 165
- Topic-focus articulation in Taqbaylit and Tashelhit Berber 193
- Focus in Atlantic languages 233
- Topic and focus construction asymmetry 261
- Verb-and-predication focus markers in Gur 287
- Why contrast matters 315
- Focus and the Ejagham verb system 349
- Language index 377
- Subject index 379
